74 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
and mode of growth, are certainly much more manageable under the horizontal 
mode than any other, provided root-pruning is properly attended to. All stone 
fruits, however, ought most certainly to be trained on the fan system, if the 
proper care and attention can be bestowed upon them to prevent them from 
running into a vigorous woody growth. Where', however, time and labour are 
short, I will not say but that a greater degree of neatness may be attained, with 
less trouble, by the horizontal mode than the fan ; but even this is only true of 
Plums, since Apricots, Peaches, and Cherries are very much better under any 
circumstances when trained fan-shape. 
The Peach being one of the earliest trees requiring attention, and also one 
to which the fan system of training is peculiarly applicable, I will now en¬ 
deavour to give a plain and practical detail of the method to be followed out in 
order to secure a healthy and fruitful development of growth coupled with a 
symmetrical shape. Thus, supposing a young tree to have been planted at the 
proper season, and also to have been specially selected, or previously prepared, 
with a view to equalising the growth of the shoots so that none shall pre¬ 
dominate in strength, it ought to possess eight shoots, each of about the same 
length and strength, and this will form a very good foundation to start from. 
There will be no need to head them back closely, as is too commonly necessary 
when trees are planted late ; but they may be left at about 18 inches in length, 
rather more or less, according to the size and strength of the wood, and then 
trained out equally in radiating lines from the centre, taking care, liow r ever, to 
leave the centre well open. 
The height of the wall will form a very good criterion whereby to determine 
if it will be best to plant dwarfs or standards. If the wall is low, say 8 or 
9 feet, then dwarf trees only ought to be planted ; but if of the height of 12 or 
14 feet, then the width between the dwarfs may be increased, and standards 
planted in the centre between each two ; and the training of these may partake 
of the star shape—that is, the lowest branches may be trained downwards. 
These trees should have at least ten good shoots to start with; the lowest, 
however, should be shortened to about a foot, and the highest to 18 inches 
or so. 
Previously to training-in, the shoots should be dressed over, whilst in a 
dormant state, with a solution of Gishurst compound, to which may be added 
some clay and flowers of sulphur to give it a thick consistence, as I think that 
the great benefit to be derived from this kind of dressings consists in their 
being thick enough to smother and plaster up both eggs and insects. This will 
be found a great preventive of both mildew and red spider, two very destructive 
enemies to a healthy development. It would be as w r ell also if the trees could 
have the advantage of some kind of temporary protection to ward off the evil 
effects caused by the cold temperature so often prevalent in early spring, which 
is too often the cause of blistered leaves—an evil so destructive to the early 
growth, and so permanently injurious in its effects, that every care should be 
exercised to counteract it. The importance of attention to this point will be¬ 
come more apparent, when we consider that the formation both of healthy 
sound wood and fruit-buds depends upon the perfect development of the leaves ; 
anything, therefore, which interferes with their development must be regarded 
as destructive. I believe, myself, that this particular" injury is caused by the 
rupture of the vessels through the action of a low temperature, when the leaves 
are in a very young and tender state, the injury, however, not being sufficient 
to kill. The vitality of the leaves is sufficient to attract the sap when it begins 
to flow freely, but as they cannot make the proper use of it, the result is that 
abnormal condition commonly called curl or blister; and, therefore, because 
these injured leaves cannot perform their functions, the operator is often obliged 
to cut such shoots back, for the chance of a fresh bud breaking; or else to 
